Do you dream of abundance and fortune in your business, but it’s as elusive as the magic make six figures while you sleep unicorn? Newsflash, you’re probably sitting on a fortune in your business that you don’t even realize. The fortune my friends, is in your follow-up. Today we break down some proven ideas on how to help you provide a top notch customer experience and build your business in the process. Show notes with key points and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode87.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

Why ‘follow up’ is actually a very feisty topic.

When you suck at follow up, you’re leaving money on the table.

I break down some ways you can follow up very easily and quickly.

Following up is not bugging someone, you just don’t know if you don’t ask.

Having a follow up system should be a critical part of your process.

I share some examples of awesome follow up systems that truly have worked.

Following up with current clients (think of it like an upsell) should be a key part of your client strategy.

Keeping in touch with your past clients is just a smart business move, take the time to maintain your relationships.

What if you could build your business without doing all of the marketing things? It is possible! In this episode we break down the #1 marketing strategy you’ll ever have - surprising and delighting your customers. Focusing on the clients you have today can transform your business tomorrow. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode86.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

At the core of businesses and brands that I love is that they make me feel good.

It costs 7 times more to hire a new customer than to keep an existing one, so let’s work to reduce the hustle.

What does it actually mean to truly surprise and delight your clients?

Handling the details from day 1 is super important; if you provide a really good experience up front, you need to continue that until they walk out the door.

Let’s get back to basics: what is really important to your clients?

Boundaries are necessary and important, but don’t confuse boundaries with being petty or turning great clients away.

Going the extra mile and saying yes when it could be a no shows you actually care and helps you to stand out.

If you can stop and truly listen to what your client is saying (and most of all what they’re not saying) it will result in a loyal customer base.

I share a few real time examples of surprise and delight in action with businesses I’ve interacted with recently.

I challenge you to listen more to your customers, to figure out the details of your systems, and to pay attention in your day to day life for examples you can use to surprise and delight your customers.

Top 3 Takeaways for this Episode:

Figure out the ways you can listen more to your customers. What do they really need?

Sit down with your client flow and figure out what really matters to your clients so you can nail it.

Pay attention to how you experience surprise and delight on a day-to-day basis so you can get ideas on you adapt concepts for your business.

Links for this Episode:

Brand experience, customer experience, customer care...total buzz words right? Earlier this year, one of my good friends said she thought that the “customer experience” conversation was on it’s way to being the next content marketing. Trendy or not, I don’t think we can ignore it or pretend it’s not a critical marketing strategy if we want to go. Show notes with key points and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode85.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

When we have a great experience, we stand up and take notice. Shouldn’t this just be the norm?

As a business owner, it’s up to you to make providing a great customer service experience your mission.

If you don’t nail this piece, the rest really doesn’t matter!

It costs 7 times more to acquire a new customer than to keep one you already have.

If you want to make more of an impact, focus on the clients you have right now.

This is the call for you to forget the marketing to do list, and to start surprising and delighting your current clients.

This is simple, basic, rudimentary stuff, but it’s stuff that’s being forgotten in our businesses.

Links for this Episode:

Think you don’t have money mindset issues? Think again! We all have a story around money and Kylie Patchett joins us today to help bust through the myths and misconceptions we may have to help us step up and own our money mindset. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode84.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

Kylie puts the ‘woo-woo’ attitude about having a money mindset to rest once and for all.

Why we are holding ourselves back with our money mindset and how we can change it.

The idea that we have to be overworked and exhausted to succeed at entrepreneurship is all too common and not true or sustainable.

Kylie explains where we get in our own way in our business, and how to recognize what tools we need to get out of it.

Trying to do your business someone else’s way is all too common and a mistake for your business in the long run.

We need to create a quiet space for ourselves where we can go inward and really hear our own voice.

What is a money block and why do we have them?

Kylie shares a couple simple ways to start clearing out your money blocks to make room for things to happen.

Figuring out your beliefs about money is paramount to breaking through them to try and reach a healthy money mindset.

Affirming and stating a new belief is great, but we have to act from that new belief to make it work.

Naming the obnoxious voice in our head of fear and inner doubt can help you talk to it and reassure it to calm down and separate it from the truth.

Top 3 Takeaways for this Episode:

Think about ways you’ve probably sabotaged yourself with your money mindset? Is it a case of the can’ts or pricing things ridiculously low? Taking notice of where you may be struggling is the best place to start.

Take time today to create quiet space to silence all the voices in you and get grounded. This time can help you get back on track and focus on what really matters to you.

Name the obnoxious voice in your head so when it shows up you can calm it down and cut through the chatter.

Links for this Episode:

It’s time for a math lesson - or maybe it’s a plea for us to all pay attention to the math so we can run more productive and profitable businesses. Show notes with key points and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode83.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

We’re almost at the mid point of the year, which is when we start to look at where we are in terms of our ‘big goal’

We may find ourselves doing something drastic to try and get to our goal, and this can be dangerous

Before you do anything, please stop and ‘do the math’

Conversion is the secret sauce in your business on what will take you from good to great

Sometimes you need to look inside your business instead of outside for programs or coaches to help you reach your goal

Don’t be afraid of the numbers and the math, they might end up being the best thing to happen to your business

Google has a lot of tools we can use to dig into where we’re missing steps in our business and on our site

Don’t lose site of the big picture and what really matters, don’t get carried away by the numbers and lose the soul of your business. You can have both!

Links for this Episode:

One of the biggest challenges that most business owners face is that marketing takes up way too much time. From learning the ropes to actually implementing strategies, it can be a steep learning curve. Which is exactly why you’ll want to hear what Michelle Evans has to say, she has an amazing corporate marketing background which gives her a different spin on online marketing and what we really need to be doing. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode82.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ for marketing, don’t be fooled by how seductive the ‘magic strategies’ can be.

Michelle explains what she sees happening with people following the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in their marketing.

Michelle gives us some key questions we have to answer about our business before we can even begin to have a marketing strategy.

The key assessments Michelle uses with her clients to help them pinpoint their uniqueness in their target market.

Why knowing your audience and target client inside and out is so important.

Michelle explains how to find the people who want what you offer.

When you do get to talk to someone who is your ideal client, Michelle gives us tips on what to ask them and how to use your findings.

How to not let your marketing take over your business, and how to make the time you do spend on it the most effective it can be.

Michelle pinpoints some common marketing tactics she sees people hanging on to that aren’t necessarily working.

Top 3 Takeaways for this Episode:

Don’t get seduced by big promises and things that seem too good to be true. Sometimes the simplest things are the ones that produce the biggest results.

Before you dive into marketing get clear on your strengths, goals, audience and more. And if you’ve been at this for a while, take some time to periodically reassess so you’re not letting things get stale.

Is your marketing getting you where you want to go? More marketing isn’t the answer, maybe letting some things go so you can make what you are doing work more effectively.

Calling something strategic doesn’t make it so. In fact, strategy is being used and abused and it’s about time we have a honest discussion about the fact that not everything is strategic, and when you call everything a strategy, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Show notes with key points and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode81.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

I explain why the word ‘strategy’ puts me on edge as of late.

The difference between a strategy and a tactic is hard to grasp and easy to make interchangeable when they shouldn’t be at all.

When we use the word ‘strategy’ too often, we are setting the expectations off and it isn’t doing us any favor.

Why me being a minor in history relates to the terms ‘strategy’ and ‘tactics’.

How your strategy is the big picture plan (the ‘what’ and the ‘why’) and your tactics are your ‘how’

Your strategy can be stretched over months or years, while the tactics are your day to day to dos to reach that goal.

I’m not the word police, but I think the word ‘strategy’ should be used carefully so it doesn’t become just another buzzword.

Links for this Episode:

We hear it all the time about following our passion, but today’s guest has a different spin on passion and purpose. Author and writer Jeff Goins joins the show today to discuss his new book The Art of Work. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode80.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

Jeff discusses how he never thought he had a ‘dream’ but followed the thread of his life to narrow down what it could be.

The past doesn’t have to dictate your future, but it can inform it.

Jeff explains how finding out your pursuit is the easiest part, but the work that goes into it from then on is the real process and the journey that lasts your whole life.

Jeff’s advice on how to master our own skills in a way that lets us write our own ticket.

With the changing economy, you have to be ready to accept your calling can be more than one thing.

If you have several things that you do and that compliment each other well, you will always be able to change and grow with your life and the economy.

Jeff explains the different hats he wears in his business and combines those skills to benefit his career in the best way.

Top 3 Takeaways for this Episode:

What can you do to master the skills you need to be in charge of your future? Where are you today and what do you need to get where you want to go?

Accepting your calling can be a challenge, but once you tap into that you’ll be able to adapt as the world of work evolves.

What different hats do you wear, and how can you wear the ones that are most aligned with your calling?

When you’ve worked in corporate, it’s hard sometimes to break free of those expectations and you can find yourself being way more formal than you need to be. Today we dive into how you can still be professional and not sound over the top corporate in your communications. Show notes with key points and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode79.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

If you come from a corporate environment, you can be so worried about being professional that you come across as formal and impersonal

Not confusing being professional with being corporate is one of the toughest things to translate to the online entrepreneurial world

You can be professional and have personality and not sound like a robot

Some signs you are ‘overdoing it’ in being formal

Why are we so scared of letting our personality out? The reason we started our own business is to be able to do our own thing!

It’s easy to default to what we know and not step outside our comfort zone, but formality can sound very fake

I share a couple quick tips for letting your personality shine through

Links for this Episode:

If you’re a creative, I’m willing to bet that the word legal or lawyer puts your back up because it feels constricting. The reality is that, creatives absolutely need a legal strategy in place and this episode has Chicago-based lawyer to creatives, Patrice Perkins breaking it all down. Show notes with key points, takeaways and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode78.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

When you’re a creative, legal stuff can seem boring. Patrice explains how to look at in a different way to get excited about it.

Patrice cautions against ‘following the herd’ with legal for your business and what you definitely shouldn’t DIY.

We chat about some of the best options for creating a plan to protect your IP.

Patrice explains what a trade secret is and why it’s important in your business.

The ‘quick and easy’ way to tell the difference between a copyright and a trademark.

One of the things that keeps entrepreneurs up at night is someone taking our course or offering, sticking their name on it, and calling it their own. Patrice explains how easy and inexpensive it can be to protect our content.

What to include in your terms of service to protect yourself and your process.

There are people out there trying to rip us off, but the majority of cases are people who just aren’t thinking or simply don’t know any better. You need to protect against both and Patrice explains how.

Patrice breaks down exactly what a copyright is and what it means for your business.

The one thing Patrice wishes everyone knew when it came to the law and their business.

Why preparing for the worst case scenario can be beneficial to your business (and doesn’t mean you’re being over the top).

Top 3 Takeaways for this Episode:

You can’t afford not to protect your IP. And by doing that you’re actually giving yourself more time to expand and do more of what you love.

Hello, trade secrets. This could be just the solution you’re looking for.

Consider starting to submit your copyrighted works as you create them so that you’re fully protected from copycats and would-be rip off artists.